The latest review is up at the FPI blog:
Matthew Craig's Trixie Biker.
I've reviewed Matthew's work before and we're particularly fond of his lovely Hondle comic here at Bruton mansions. And when I reviewed his work last time, this love for Hondle rather overshadowed everything else he sent me.
But this time it's just Trixie Biker. And it was very enjoyable indeed. But go read it for yourself on the blog.
CBR judges books by their covers.
I looked through this post of the upcoming Marvel books for December and it seemed to summarise something I've been thinking for quite a while now.
Firstly, how samey they all look. With a couple of exceptions they're all fairly muddy, bland and generic. Secondly, how many X-books are there now? I rarely go into comic shops these days, getting down to Nostalgia & Comics about once every couple of months. But it seemed that, as I scrolled, all of the books for a bloody long time seemed to have X in the title somewhere.
But as I went down I kept looking, hoping for something interesting. The best I got was these two:
There was, however, one really funny cover in amongst the standard fare: I've got zero interest in reading it, I have no idea why the Hulk is red, but I love the visual gag that Frank Cho has thrown into the cover. That is funny.
After that it was back to being plain uninterested until very near the end and we have two comics that just don't count as Marvel Comics in the way we're talking about them here. Both of these I'll be picking up:
And that's it for my interest in Marvel Comics for the month. Bloody terrible. I was talking about this with people at the weekend at Thought Bubble. Obviously, from some of the recent reviews I've been putting up, I'm having a lot more fun reading small press comics at the moment. But this is only partially because the quality and energy in the British Small Press is so high at the moment. It's also coincided with a time when both major comic companies are going through a really bad patch.
Now slumps in quality happen all the time in Marvel and DC Comics. But rarely at the same time. Indeed, I recall reading something once in an interview Grant Morrison did about this very subject which postulated that there is a very definite cycle of quality and excitement with Marvel and DC. As Marvel waxes, DC wanes and vice versa.
The cycle continues and every couple of years, five at most, there seems to be a flip. Except, unless I'm talking complete horseshit here (and that is possible), I don't really see anything exciting from either company. They're both in the trough. And please, don't start mentioning odd titles here and there. I'm sure both companies have good books that I'm not aware of, but I'm talking more about the overall corporate face of the companies - the mean of the quality if you will.
Hopefully, as the financial situation rolls on we'll actually see a restructuring and I'm really hopeful that this will see change at both companies. Because from where I'm looking, any change at all would be better than the lacklustre performance we're being given by both of them right now.
This is one of those stories (Telegraph, Sky) that is obviously intended to make the educated masses tut into their lattes and shake their heads in mock horror whilst barely suppressing their hatred fro anyone not like them.
But in truth, all it shows is that 1 in 10 people is an idiot. And that's hardly a surprise is it?
Caught this piece of genius from Brendan McCarthy's weblog:
by Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows.
Crossed is the latest Avatar book from Garth Ennis who appears to be taking the same route as Warren Ellis and Jamie Delano of throwing a few projects over to Avatar where they know their big name status will guarantee publishing and extensive publicity. Now, some of Warren Ellis’ recent stuff has been very, very good (Freakangels, Crecy) but some of it’s been determinedly so-so as well.
And here we have Crossed. Another one for the so-so pile I’m afraid. It’s the zombie story that isn’t a zombie story. A sinister mystery infection turns normal folks into bloodthirsty, crazed monsters who just want to eat your face off. Okay, so the people doing the face eating aren’t dead, but everything else here ticks all the classic Dawn Of The Dead zombie boxes.
Just like Warren Ellis’ recent Avatar zombie tale, Blackgas, I thought Crossed was a fair, solid little horror story but there’s just not enough here to differentiate it from the numerous other zombie horror books on the racks. The story’s solid enough and the art from Jacen Burrows is better than his previous stuff but again, is just nothing special.
Of course, the real problem here might be the format. It’s one of those $1 zero issues with just 11 pages of comics that has to not only introduce the storyline and the characters but grab the reader enough to get them to come back for issue 1 and pay full price for it. Crossed, with 11 very fast, set up the action, dialogue light pages just never gave me enough to really make any kind of judgement beyond the feeling I’d seen it all before. I’m enough of a Garth Ennis fan to kind of want to look at the next issue, but overall the whole 11 page teaser preview just hasn’t worked for me.
Generally, if you’re a horror fan, or a fan of Garth Ennis’ more recent work, Crossed should appeal. But don’t get your hopes up for anything new or different, this is a zombies by the numbers kind of tale (just without actual zombies). As for me, maybe it’s one to revisit later on in it’s 10 issue series, or maybe one to get in collected form. Or maybe not. It’s that sort of book.
Sara McIntyre, author and illustrator of the great Vern & Lettuce in the DFC has a challenge for writers and artists out there in advance of the Turning Pages, the first British Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators conference for writers AND illustrators in London on the 22nd/23rd of November.
The challenge is this; over to Sara:
"Take part in our Comixtravaganza! ... Come up with a four-panel comic strip on the theme: My writing/illustrating life. Let us see some quirk about your daily working life, whether it be a moment of procrastination, the coffee you absolutely MUST drink to write dialogue, a daydream, or that cat that keeps leaving paw prints on your painting surfaces. Don't worry if you're not an illustrator, the writing is just as important, and stick figures are an essential part of every writer's tool kit!" Click here to see the full post.
The first entry is from Darryl Cunningham, he of Super Sam and John Of The Night, the webcomic being serialised here at the FPI blog. Now it's your turn...
(Darryl Cunningham's writing/illustrating life)
The Dan Lester Mysteries
by Dan Lester and Oliver Lambden
Another really good example of just how strong the UK small press scene is right now. From the very start, with a great pulp fiction style cover (painted on canvas by Lester for the full cracked and grainy effect) The Dan Lester Mysteries is a great little murder mystery; well written, crisp dialogue, full of funnies and featuring the best art of Oliver Lambden’s career so far.
A couple of friends are overheard on a bus having a joke about one of their friends who happens to look impossibly youthful which leads the punchline: “We should go on holiday with a five year old again”. Not the best line to be overheard by an interfering woman who probably has trouble spelling paedophile yet no trouble following our man Dan home and reporting him to the police:
(The setup - always be careful where you make those flip comments folks. From the Dan Lester Mysteries by Dan Lester and Oliver Lambden.)
After this Dan Lester finds himself pulled into the police station, accused of child abduction and then subsequently targeted by a possible serial killer. Dan’s only course of action, as far as he can see it, is to go out and solve the mystery himself. (With, as they always say, hilarious results).
Lester has said this may lead to more, with different artists each time. Obviously, the choice of artist is going to be very important and they’ll have a hard time topping the great work by Lambden this issue. But as long as Lester can keep coming up with stories as interesting and funny as this debut tale, it’s going to be a pleasure to read them.
(Dan Lester’s interrogation scene showcasing some of the great, snort out the coffee dialogue - “waiting for a bus” got me.)
The Dan Lester Mysteries is available from Dan Lester here or from conventions and Dan & Oliver’s regular appearances at London Underground Comics events.
Dan Lester’s Monkeys Might Puke website. Oliver Lambden’s Modern Monstrosity website.
Where Grows The Bitter Herb
by Ben Powis
I reviewed a couple of Ben Powis’ books a little while back; Whale Hunt and Turtle Guitar and he’s been kind enough to send me a copy of his latest comic; Where Grows The Bitter Herb. And I’m really pleased to say that it’s another step forward for this really talented newcomer to comics.
The first thing you notice is that little A5 comic looks absolutely great. Totally professional, great cover, fantastic reproduction. If you’re still harbouring ideas of the small press and self publishing movement being all wonky card covers and badly reproduced black and white photocopied pages this should make you think again. It looks a damn sight better than most comics from the big boys.
But once you get beyond how nice the book looks superficially, open it up and be amazed at how good it is as a comic. Where Grows The Bitter Herb is a quaint quest story in the style Ben started using in Turtle Guitar but this time he’s produced 36 pages of really great work. The story is simple and innocent; indeed, it would make a lovely children’s book:
All is not well in the village, a mother lies sick and dying. The only thing that can save her is a magical herb that grows atop the tallest mountain, but who will be brave enough to quest for it?
That’s the plot. Very simple, linear and easy to read. With his mother dying, he ventures off into the unknown; first by airship and then, after airborne calamity, by foot. Our hero ventures through dark forest, underground caves of singing rainbow birds and out onto the ice sheets at the edge of the mountain. All for love and all in search of the Bitter Herb.
But it’s the execution of the plot that turns this into something quite lovely. Incredibly complex and detailed art; lush colours and intricate, complicated backgrounds populated with simply drawn creatures of varying degrees of strangeness. Like Turtle Soup and Whale Hunt Bitter Herb is an all ages tale and my 9 year old thought it was absolutely great. She loved the art and the creatures were very funny little things was her verdict of the comic. You also get a limited edition badge when you order the comic; Molly is proudly wearing hers to school this week.
I made the comparison with Maurice Sendak in my last review and I’ll stick to that here. The same playfulness, the same richness and invention in the artwork. Bitter Herb is just a great comic and I can’t praise it enough. After just three comics he’s proving to be a real rising star in the UK comics scene. I’ll be following Ben Powis’ career with much interest. And I shall stop here before he begins to think I’m going to start stalking him. So while he plans where to go to escape me, make sure you head to his website and give him cash for his excellent comics.
Ben Powis is also attending this weekend's Thought Bubble festival in Leeds. Details at their website.
New DFC came through the door today.
Cover is from Prince Of Baghdad. Not one of Molly's favourites, as she always prefers the funny stuff rather than the adventure stuff.
Another great issue though, despite Molly not liking the cover that much. Vern & Lettuce and Crab Lane Crew were, as usual, the first things she went for. We're off to Thought Bubble in Leeds later and she's looking forward to seeing lots of different artists, but most of all she's looking forward to seeing Simone Lia, author of the great Fluffy and more importantly to Molly; Sausage & Carrot, the 3 panel strip on the back of the DFC.
The big disappointment for me is the end (for now) of Mezolith. Initially I wasn't that keen but over the last few weeks it's become a favourite.
One interesting development is reported by Sara McIntyre (Vern & Lettuce). She's saying that the DFC will be trialed in Tesco for one week only from November 26th. Interesting indeed....
The DFC is a fantastic comic for children of all ages (& grown ups of all ages too for that matter). It's available via subscription only from the DFC website.
Another new review at the FPI blog:
The Dan Lester Mysteries issue 1 by Dan Lester and Oliver Lambden
You'll be able to get it from Oliver at this years Leeds Thought Bubble festival.
The mini comics of Lizz Lunney:
There are some mini-comics that really want to be grown up, proper comics, who want to be published in bigger form but haven’t made it yet. And there are some mini comics that don’t. Mini-comics so happy at being minis, who never want to be big, who go around cavorting in their mini-comic-ness.
Guess which one Lizz Lunney’s mini-comics are?
Like she says herself on the back of I Love Dinosaurs And They Love Me:
A beautiful collection of stories for your enjoyment encased in a crisp, shiny cover. Like sweets. But more exciting. And less E-numbers.
These are mini-comics perfection. The sushi analogy keeps getting used about Lizz’s work; tiny little bite sized morsels of comic goodness, every one packed full of great gag strips and a host of recurring characters that just can’t help put a huge smile on your face. Just the titles enough should be enough to get that grin forming: Depressed Cat, My Mate Primate, Disco Rabbit, Fat Pigeon and Smelly Pigeon, Yum Yum Gay Cats and many, many more.
I had an absolute blast going through the five mini comics and working my way through her web-comic section. And it occurred to me that the best way to review Lizz’s work was to stop blabbering on about it and just share the fun with a few selections. I find much to empathise with when I read Depressed Cat, but the smiles just keep coming after that:
Her comics are wonderful, happy, quirky and delightful things. A6 sized (think pocket sized) with lovely shiny colour covers. A little something to make your day a little more day-glo and fun.
Lizz Lunney is online at lots of places: website, blog, webcomics, online shop, interview at Bug Powder, interview for Insight Out program at City University Birmingham.
Lizz also has a great T-shirt at Threadless.com based on one of her cartoons (sadly, all sold out):
Lizz Lunney is at Thought Bubble in Leeds this weekend.
Another review at the FPI blog right now,
Lizz Lunney writes and draws some absolutely great and very funny mini comics.
She'll be at the Thought Bubble comic con at Leeds this weekend. Go and buy one of them to find out for yourself.
On The Banks Of The Mighty Croal, 8 Stories and Bog Wizards
3 mini-comics by Rob Jackson
Self-Published
Rob Jackson’s been making his comics for a number of years; never staying too long in any one genre and continually improving both his writing and art. These latest three mini-comics stay true to that generalisation, including travelogue, fiction, comedy and adventure. There’s also a wide range of writing and art styles in here, with Rob managing to look like at least 4 separate artists at times. Some styles work better for me than others, but that’s the point obviously; this is all about experimenting with various styles, telling different stories.
First up is On The Banks Of The Mighty Croal. Rob’s timing for this one is terrible. If he’d shown me this last year I’d have absolutely loved it. But as it is, it comes out after I’ve seen Oliver East’s Trains Are … Mint. And having seen Trains, The Mighty Croal loses some of it’s originality and lustre. The ideas of both are very similar; a guided walk through an area with the artist painting a visual and literary scene as the walk unfolds. Jackson takes us on a gentle meander down the path of the River Croal, from the centre of modern Bolton to the leafy green suburbs of Lostock. Cutting from detailed, intricate drawings straight to dense text passages of descriptive text and hand written annotations alongside the artwork.
But as I was reading it I couldn’t help but compare it with Trains Are … Mint. On The Banks Of The Mighty Croal lacks the first person narration, the running commentary alongside the descriptive text. Croal has none of the romance and emotional journey that Trains has and is all the poorer for it.
(Double page spread from Rob Jackson’s On The Banks Of The Mighty Croal.)
In fact, given that the two artists come from the same general area, I have an image in mind of the two crossing each other’s path as Jackson walks the river and East walks the railway path. On it’s own merits it’s very good, but it could have been, should have been more. It’s text is descriptive and informative. Yet it’s interesting without having the lyricism and heart it needs to make it great. And I believe Jackson could genuinely do something wonderful with it. His love for the subject does come through; but only really in the pictures; they’re detailed snapshots of moments in his walk. And they’re illustrated in such a way to make me believe that if he could but find the words to match the splendour of his locations and his artwork, he’d have a really great comic on his hands.
Completely different in tone, style, artistic and literary, is Bog Wizards. Here Rob adopts a much less detailed art style and tells a good little adventure story, mixing sword and sorcery action with a self-depreciating section in the middle pages where the author over-analyses his own work to comedic effect.
Finally; 8 Stories. A comic that’s all over the place stylistically, albeit in a very pleasing way. As you might expect it’s a collection of 8 stories all but one written and illustrated by Jackson.
As a collection it’s a showcase to the range Jackson commands. With short strips covering his travels in South Korea, a gruesome maths lesson with the Math-ro-mancer, the reason Jackson is never going anywhere near a kayak again and more. The art styles are equally diverse, from the near sketch-book entry of Show Me Your Insect Hooves about Jackson’s trip to see the Cardiacs, to the really tight and rather wonderful highlight of the book: The City That Fell In Love With Itself.
The City That Fell In Love With Itself is an impressive and poetic tale of a city that falls in love with it’s own reflection along it’s own lake shore. Difficult to make me care about a city, but guest writer Shonagh Ingram manages it. And Rob puts some of his best artwork to a good story. The gorgeous colour cover above shows off just how good Jackson’s art can be when he really works hard at it. 8 Stories is well worth the cost of admission just for the City tale alone.
(Page from The City That Fell In Love With Itself, from 8 Stories, written by Shonagh Ingram and drawn by Rob Jackson)
All told, Rob Jackson is doing some very nice things here. I make no bones about it that I prefer his art when he pulls it in a little. Some of his cartooning is just too rough for me. But when he does, as in the Cities story and with the Croal, it’s a pleasure to look at. And he has a good, naturalistic voice for his writing. Whether it’s reportage, humour or anything else he turns his hand to, I’ll definitely be interested in where he goes next.
Rob’s comics are available from the Forbidden Planet British Small Press shop and from his website (www.robjacksoncomics.com) and he has a blog.
He'll be at this weekend's Thought Bubble comic convention at Leeds. Pop along and buy his lovely comics.
Joe points me in the direction of the FPI site, where he's got a nice competition to win one of five copies of the Vertigo Encyclopaedia. Christmas is coming ..........
God that was a loooong day.
Yesterday Molly performed at the Royal Albert Hall with the East Riding of Yorkshire Massed Choir.
Up at 6 something. School at 7:30. She head down to London, afternoon rehearsal at the Albert, evening performance. Travels back in the dead of night and eventually gets into Pocklington at 3am. She was so very tired last night, but incredibly excited as well, packed with adrenaline at having such a great trip.
All went well and the actual concert went really well according to those who saw it. Everyone involved did spectacularly well.
But it's left all three of us absolutely exhausted. Molly had this morning off school and Louise took the day off to stay in with her. I went into work and frankly just zombied myself through the day. I'm turning in soon to try to avoid my inevitable waking up of the brain in a couple of hours. The body's just given up on me.
But we're so glad she did it. Something she'll never ever forget - 11 November 2008; the day she sang at the Royal Albert Hall
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